Apparatus for introducing a filling material into a container of flexible material

ABSTRACT

A container of flexible material and a method of filling the container with a bulk material is described. A filling hose is secured to the opposed internal walls of the flattened or collapsed container in bonding zones or areas in which the bonding strength is greater than the ultimate strength of the hose in the zones intermediate the bonding zones. When the filling material is introduced into the container through the hose, the discharge aperture of which is spaced from the closed end of the container, the container will be gradually expanded or distended and thus exert tensile forces in the intermediate zones of the hose. Since the hose material in these zones is weaker than the bonding strength between the hose and the container, the hose will be gradually torn longitudinally into two parts each of which participates in the distention of the container so that the location at which the filling material passes from the hose into the container will be displaced away from the closed container end in timed relationship with the filling operation.

United States Patent 11 1 on 3,826,292 Lerche-Svendsen July 30, 1974 APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING A Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell. Jr.

FILLING MATERIAL INTO A CONTAINER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Inventor: Flemming Lerche-Svendsen, No. 11 Skovholmvej, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 Appl. No.: 280,243

Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 31, 1971 11.8. C1 141/114, 141/314, l4l/392 Int. Cl B65b 3/16 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1953 Bchr ..l4l/114X 6/1967 Chu 141/114 Denmark 4265/71 vlllllllllll. 'IIIIIII: I'll 'I'IIIIIIIIIA I;

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII ill Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Schmidt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 5 7] ABSTRACT A container of flexible material and a method of filling the container with a bulk material is described. A filling hose is secured to the opposed internal walls of the flattened or collapsed container in bonding zones or areas in which the bonding strength is greater than the ultimate strength of the hose in the zones intermediate the bonding zones. When the filling material is introduced into the container through the hose, the dis charge aperture of which is spaced from the closed end of the container, the container will be gradually expanded or distended and thus exert tensile forces in the intermediate zones of the hose. Since the hose material in these zones is weaker than the bonding strength between the hose and the container, the hose will be gradually torn longitudinally into two parts 1 each of which participates in the distention of the container so that the location at which the filling material passes from the hose into the container will be displaced away from the closed container end in timed relationship with the filling operation.

PATEN TED JUL 3 0 SHEEI 1 OF 3 14111111111 'llllllll In. 'lll'llll I:

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APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING A FILLING MATERIAL INTO A CONTAINER OF FLEXIBLE A MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of filling bulk material into a container made of flexible material and closed at one of its ends, the filling being effected through a filling duct extending into the container from its opposite end.

A practical method of filling large, flexible containers produced from e.g. extruded plastics sheet will render it feasible to employ such containers which, in themselves, are exceedingly inexpensive, as storage silos for many types of materials, among them viscous liquids, slurries, granulated or powdered materials such as cerals, cement and chemicals, and to thereby save substantial amounts also because the containers may be disposed directly upon the ground or on a primitive foundation which does not involve large construction costs. Said materials and others which possess only a relatively low flowability, do not readily lend themselves to being filled into a horizontal or slightly inclined container from its open end since their own weight is insufficient to cause them to flow towards the opposite closed end of the container, and because air present in the empty container or rushing in during the filling operation may be occluded or trapped by the material introduced and thus impede a normal and complete filling operation. It is known to introduce materials into vertically arranged containers via a filling pipe which, during with the filling operation, is successively withdrawn from the container, but this method is complicated and, moreover, for obvious, reasons unsuitable in the case of containers of the kind referred to above, the circumference of which may be m or more and whose length may be 20 m or more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a method of introducing a filling material into a container of flexible material having a closed end, through a filling duct extending into said container from the end thereof opposite to said closed end, the method ,being characterized in that there is used a filling duct means extending for at least the major part of the length of the container between said ends and having a discharge aperture spaced a short distance from said closed container end, the filling duct means being secured to the opposed inner walls of the flattened container in bonding areas, the mechanical strength of the bonding in said areas being greater than the ultimate strength of the wall defining the duct means between said bonding areas.

With this method it is ensured that during the filling operation the point at which the material flows into the container from the filling duct, which duct is stationary relative to the container, that is to say the effective discharge opening or aperture of the duct is gradually displaced outwards in timed relationship with the increasing material volume in the container irrespective of whether the filling operation takes place at a constant or at varying speed. This ,is due to the circumstance that, as a consequence of its relatively strong or rigid connection with the inner walls of the container along the oppositely located bonding areas or zonesand its relatively low;ultimate strength in the intermediate zones, the fillingduct is successively torn longitudinally into two parts, each of which remains integral with one of the two container walls, in response to the successive distension of the container during the filling operation. After having left the instantaneous discharge opening or aperture of the filling duct, the material must thus not execute any appreciable movement, in particular not in the longitudinal direction of the container, before it has found its definite position .and the danger of air being occluded or trapped in the material isalso eliminated. l

It may be expedient to introduce the material via the filling duct under a pressure exceeding the pressure on the outside of the container since a slight positive pressure inside the container distends it -both upstream and downstream of the instantaneous discharge opening of the filling duct and thereby reduces or completely eliminates the resistance offered by the container to the desired deposition of the material.

The material may be introduced in conjunction with a gas or a liquid and a positive pressure may be maintained inside the container by means of a valve mounted in the container wall at the end where the filling duct is inserted into the container. 1

The invention also relates to a container of a flexible material for carrying out the method, and according to the invention the container comprises a filling hose secured at least locally to the opposed inner walls of the flattened container in bonding zones the total width of which measured along the periphery of the hose crosssection is less than the perimeter of said hose crosssection, said bonding zones being separated by intermediate tear zones in which the hose is not bonded to the container walls, said hose having a discharge aperture spaced from said closed container end.

lt is preferred that the width of each bonding zone is greater than the width of the intermediate tear zones. The wider the bonding zonesare, the smaller are the demands upon the specific ultimate strength of the mechanical bonding or connection between the filling hose and the container in these zones, regardless of whether the connection be established by welding, glueing or in any other suitable way. Also, so far as handling operation are connected, such as rolling up or unrolling the container with the filling hose secured therein, it is an advantage thatthe joining surfaces between the two components are as wide as possible.

The filling hose may have a substantially constant wall thickness with at least one continuous longitudinal cord or thread of a differing material embedded in each of its tear zones. Such cords or threads which, during the progressive distension of the container act as predetermined tearing lines, can, in a simple manner be embedded in the hose in connection with its extrusion. they may, for instance, be unwound from reels mounted at the side of the extruder nozzle.

In a preferred embodiment, a substantially linear tearing open of the filling hose during the filling operation is ensured by making the hose from a plastics material a high degree of monoaxial orientation in the longitudinal direction of the hose. A particularly suitable material is polypropylene (isotactic) which, when suitably treated, exhibits a marked difference in ultimate strength wheh subjected to tension in its longitudinal and transversal direction, respectively, as well as a high degree of notch sensitivity. It is assumed, however, that it is possible to employ other plastics materials possessing a pronounced monoaxial orientation, including copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene in which the addition of polyethylene imparts a somewhat increased toughness to the material, or polyethylene with very low cross-linking (so-called linear or HD- polyethylene). The last-mentioned material is disclosed in Swedish patent No. 179,301. It will be realized that the extent of the stretching of the hose material subsequent to extrusion and the temperatures at which it is processed influence the properties previously mentioned, but for a given purpose of application it will be possible to establish suitable values of these parameters experimentally.

Toinsure that the-tear lines progress as desired while the container is'being filled, it is expedient, particularly when the hose has a constant or substantially constant wall thickness, to provide a longitudinal incision extending some distance into each of the tear zones of the filling hose from the opening of the hose located nearest to the closed end of the container.

At its end remote from the closed end of the container, the hose can be everted so that its outermost portion is double-walled. It has been found that the tear lines stop when they .reach the innermost end of the double-walled hose portion.

It is also possible to achieve the same effect by insert ing a sleeve into the end of the hose remote from the closed end of the container and in tight engagement against the inside of the hose, which sleeve is produced from a substantially isotropic material and projects from the container. The sleeve, which may project that far from the container .and filling hose that it can be used for. connecting a filling pipe and, if desired, a valve or other fitting for controlling the filling operation, may, for example, be fabricated from a biaxially oriented plastics material.

While it is possible to make the filling duct means integrally with the container, e. g. by co-extruding it with the container sheet or by carrying out a relatively weak welding together of the two opposite walls of the flattened container, it is generally advantageous to employ a separate filling hose. According to the inventionthere is also provided a-filling hose for a container as defined above, wherein at least that part of the hose which is adapted to be located within the container during the filling operation, is formed with two weakened zones extending at least substantially diametrically opposite one another throughout said part of the hose, and with two opposed bonding zones located substantially 90 spaced from said weakened zones and adapted to be secured at least locally to the inner walls of the flattened container.

With a separate fillinghose it is in some cases sufficient to secure the hose locally .to the container at points or zones spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the'hose, e.g. by welding, glueing or stitching. It is preferred, however, that the two securing zones be adapted to be secured to the container in their full length since this ensures a maximum of uniformity of the progressive tearing apart of the hose and, hence, of the progress of the filling operation.

The bonding zones of the hose may haveflat contact faces for engaging the inner walls of the container, which surfaces may be provided on flanges projecting from the central portion of the hose cross-section. A

suitable area of the bonding zones is thus ensured, that is to say, a relatively low specific load on the connection, and when the container and the hose are connected by the application of pressure and/or heat, pressure bars may be inserted into the gaps between the flanges so as to serve as support for welding means, e.g. heated rollers that are moved along the outer sides of the container. I

Another advantageous embodiment of the hose has an elongated rectangular or substantially rectangular cross-section with two or more circular flow ducts closely juxtaposed in the lateral direction of the crosssection. Such a hose has the advantage that is can be extruded through a simple and thus inexpensive nozzle and the hose can be welded to the container walls without employing supporting bars and without any risk of the cross-section collapsing. In this embodiment it is possible to produce the weakened zones by means of two knives which from opposite sides of the hose make incisions into the narrow sides or flanks of the crosssection.

It is also possible to produce the weakened zones by means of grooves in the external hose surface or, alternatively, by means of internal, longitudinal ducts in the hose wall. The latter embodiment presents the advantage that it reduces the compression strength of the hose in the zones in question to a less marked degree.

A further way of achieving the local weakening of the tearing strength of the hose cross-section in a manner advantageous from a point of view of manufacture is by making it externally circular with a centrally located flow passage of elliptical contour.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatical drawings, in which I FIG. 1 is a section through an embodiment of a filling hose according to the invention and portions of the two opposing container walls in the collapsed state of the container,

FIG. 2 is a section on 'a smaller scale showing the hose and the collapsed container cross-section, portions of the width of the container being cut away for the sake of v clearness,

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing the container partially distended by introduced material,

FIG. 4 is a section corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the container fully distended and the hose section torn asunder,

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the container and filling hose taken along line V-V in FIG. 2 illustrating the container prior to the start of the filling operation,

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 5 illustrating the container and the filling hose during the filling operation,

FIG. 7 is a section through a filling hose having a modified cross-sectional profile,

FIGS. 8-11 are corresponding sections through other possible embodiments of the filling hose,

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an embodiment of the container according to the invention in which the crosssection of the hose is annular,

FIG. 13 is a section on a larger scale taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a section on a correspondingly larger scale DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1-6 show a filling hose generally designated with 1 and having a centrally extending flow duct 2, preferably as shown with circular cross-section. At two diametrically opposed locations, hose 1 is provided with flanges 3 that have flat, outwardly-facing contact surfaces which, as shown, are of considerable width relative to the diameter of flow duct 2. The flanges that are arranged in pairs opposite one another, are connected by wall sections 4 which are shaped like annular segments of minor thickness as compared to the dimensions of the flanges.

Hose 1 is intended for filling an elongated container 5 which may be produced by extruding a plastics material, preferably a therrnoplastics material such as polyethylene, in tubular shape. It is also possible to fabricate the container from a flat sheet, either by folding and joining together the longitudinal edges of the sheet or by helical winding, by weaving monoaxially stretched tapes or strips of plastics material, by fabrication from non-woven fabric or inother ways. Anyway, the container material is highly flexible and, priorto the filling operation, hose 1 is secured to the opposite inner walls 6 and 7 of the collapsed or flattened con tainer, as is seen from FIGS. 2 and 5. This securing may be effected in any suitable way, e.g. by welding, if hose and container are fabricated from thermoplastics material, by glueing or by stitching. The securing of the hose to the inner walls of the container may be carried out locally or throughout the entire length of the container but in any case the inner discharge opening or aperture of hose 1 will be located a distance from the sealed container bottom,.as seen in FIG. 5. Furthermore, filling hose 1 projects from the open end of the container, shown to the right-hand side of FIGS. 5 and 6, so that the outer end of the hose may be connected to supply of material (not shown), if desired via a pump.

When a filling material is introduced at a suitable pressure through hose 1 to the bottom of flattened container 5, the container cross-section will be gradually distended since the material issuing from the opening of hose 1 will spread in the longitudinal and transversal direction as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5. After a certain distension of the container in front of the hose opening, the tractive forces in zones 4 of the hose wall become so high that they exceed the tensile strength of the hose material, whereby the hose begins to burst in zones 4 and this bursting process propagates outwards along the hose in timed relationship with the introduction of the filling material as has been indicated in FIGS. 4 and 6, in which the two portions into which the hose is torn are designated by 8 and 9, respectively. It will be appreciated that this tearing apart of the hose takes place in response to the increasing volume of the filling material in the container 5 and to the distension of container walls 6 and 7 ensuing therefrom, so that the point at which the material flows from the hose into container 5 moves outwardly in timed relationship with the progressive introduction of filling material, that is to say that the same advantageous effect is achieved as when employing a filling pipe that is gradually withdrawn from the container during the filling operation.

FIG. 7 shows a modified cross-section of the hose as compared to FIG. 1, which is generally designated with 11 and which differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that four flanges l3 aligned in pairs are of substantially constant thickness and that the outer surfaces of the center zones 14 of the hose cross-section surrounding the through filling duct 12 are substantially flat surfaces.

FIG. 8 shows a modified hose cross-section that has an external circular outline 15, while the flow duct has en elliptical contour with the major axis thereof extending parallel to the walls (not shown) of the container. The wall thickness of the hose cross-section thus has a minimum value in the two zones 17 which, with respect to their location, correspond to the weakened zones 4 and 14in FIGS. 1 and 7, while the wall thickness has a maximum value in the intermediate zones in which the hose is secured to the container (not shown).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, both the external outline 18 of the hose and the cross-section of flow duct 19 are circular and the local weakening of the two zones situated between the container walls (not shown) v is, in this case, brought about by means of longitudinal ducts 20 in the hose wall. In lieu of the ducts 20, longitudinal cords or threads of a material differing from the hose material might be embedded in the hose crosssection, e.g. nylon threads in a hose fabricated from polyolefin material, and such threads which then ensure that the tear lines progress or propagate as desired.

- tom which provides a notch effect favourable for ensuring the desired course of the tear lines when the hose becomes distended. Both the ducts 20 shown in FIG. 9 and the grooves 23 shown in FIG. 10 may be formed as the result of a corresponding construction of a nozzle through which the hose is extruded.

For securing a hose provided with flanges as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 7 to the inside of a container fabricated from thermoplastics material, rails or bars may expediently be introduced into the spaces between the opposed flanges of the hose cross-section to act as support for external welding means which are moved along the container for welding the hose and the container together locally or continuously.

FIG. 11 shows a filling hose cross-section in the form of an elongated rectangle having two opposing wide sides or edges 25 which constitute the bonding zones of the hose against the inner walls (not shown) of the container. In the two opposing narrow sides or edges 26 of the cross-section there are provided two incisions 27 parallel to edges 25 and each terminating a short distance from a circular flow aperture 28 in the hose cross-section. The thickness of the material between the two apertures 28 and, hence, the tearing strength of the hose cross-section in that zone is so small that when the hose is secured to the container walls (not shown) and a filling material is introduced into the container via apertures 28, the hose will be torn asunder 7 parallel to the edges 25 in a similar manner as the previously described hose cross-sections. The depth and the width of incisions 27, which are expediently produced with the aid of two knives mounted downstream of an extruder in which the hose is produced, may readily be adapted to the ultimate strength of the hose material and the forces that occur due to the introduction of the filling material. The circular cross-section of apertures 28 permits a particularly easy connection of a connecting pipe from a pump for introducing the material. It will be seen that a hose having the cross-section shown in FIG. 11 can be welded onto the container walls without the use of supporting bars, and the comparatively great width of the cross-section inrelation to its height provides the hose with greater stability during the filling operation and, hence, a reduced tendency towards tilting or even breaking away from the container walls.

When reference has been made above to a-container open at one end, this merely implies that the container must have at least one or more openings sufiiciently large for allowing the filling material to be introduced and for permitting removal of any gas and/or liquid that may be occluded or trapped, for instance, through an automatic non-return valve. It is pointed out in this connection that for filling containers having a great circumferential length, that is to say a great width in the collapsed state, it may be expedient to employ two or more hoses suitably spaced across the width of the container for introducing the filling material so as to achieve a better distribution of this material in the lateral direction of the container.

Even if FIGS. and 6 show the filling hose as extending outside the open end of the container, it may in many cases be expedient to let it terminate a short distance witin the edge of the container, and in such a case the material is led into the end of the hose via a connected conventional hose or pipe which, subsequent to the filling operation, is withdrawn from the container. If the container is closed at the end except for said aperture for thedetachable filling pipe, the aperture may be provided with a valve which closes automatically when the filling pipe is withdrawn. Through such an aperture or valve it will be possible to subequently empty the container via a corresponding pipe that may, for example, be connected to a pump.

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate a particularly simple and this in many cases preferred embodiment of the invention in which'it is possible to employ a filling hose having a simple annular cross-section. The container is designated by 40 and the filling hose by 41. In FIGS. 1346, the container is shown slightly distended for the sake of clearness so that its two opposed side walls 42 and 43 are spaced from each other, corresponding to filling hose 41 being expanded to a circular cross-section such as would normally be the case in the initial phase of a filling operation. it will be appreciated, however, that both the container and the filling hose secured thereto are completely collapsed or flattened prior to the filling operation which, among other things, facilitates the handling of the container. I

At its left-hand end as shown in FIG. 12, the container is completely sealed or closed by means of a transverse weld 44 and a similar weld 45 closes the opposite end of the container with the exception of two apertures through which filling hose 41 and a venting sleeve 46, respectively, extend through the weld.

Filling hose 41 extends longitudinally through container 40 and terminates, see FIG. 13, with a discharge opening or aperture spaced a suitable distance from weld 44 at the closed end of the container. It may expediently be secured throughout its entire length to the inside of the two opposed container walls 42 and 43 in zones each extending for approximately one fourth or more of the perimeter of the hose cross-section. From said discharge opening or aperture of hose 41, two longitudinal and diametrically opposed incisions 47 are made through the wall of hose 41 before the container is sealed by means of weld 44. These incisions, which are located in the tear zones situated between securing zones in which the hose is bonded to the container, serve for initiating the longitudinal tearing in two of the hose which, as explained above, occurs in response to the successive distension of the container resulting from the introduction of a filling material through the hose.

At its end projecting from container 40 as shown in FlG. 15, the filling hose is everted prior to being secured to container walls 42 and 43 so that the outermost end of the hose is double-walled with an inner portion 41a and an outer portion 41b, of which the latteris secured to the container walls in weld 45. The double wall thickness of the outermost extremity of the filling has the effect that the tear lines referred to in the foregoing, which originate in incisions 47 and are propagated lengthwise through filling hose 41, stop at the point where the double-walled hose end portion commences.

Venting sleeve 46 is mounted sealingly yet detachably in a sleeve 48 which, in an appropriate manner, is secured to .the inside of container walls 42 and 43 in weld 4S and which may be fabricated from a soft plastic hose so that it tends to collapse and thus close the aperture of the container when sleeve 46 is withdrawn. As shown, perforations 49 have been provided in the end of sleeve 46 which projects into the container, and the diameter and number of the perforations may be chosen in such a way that they act as a filter holding back the filling material when liquid or gas that may have been trapped or occluded during the filling operation escapes from the container. in connection with sleeve 46, there may be provided a spring-loaded valve that opens only when a certain positive pressure prevails inside the container and thereby permits the above-mentioned filling operation to take place under a certain positive pressure which can facilitate the distension of the container.

When filling hose 41 is fabricated from a plastics ma terial which, in the longitudinal direction of the hose, is very markedly mono-axially oriented, e.g. polypropylene as mentioned above, it has been found possible to achieve to all intents and purposes a fully linear propagation of the tear lines starting from the incisions or notches at the discharge opening or aperture of the hose, even with a simple annular cross-section of the hose. it may thus be superfluous to provide for any of the special features mentioned above with respect to the hose cross-sections of FIGS. 1-11. The bonding of the hose tothe inside of the container can be effected by means of two adhesive tapes that are coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides, e.g. the adhesive tape marketed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company under the trade name of Scotch Tape 401, which has been found suitable for joinning together a container made from polyethylene with a filling hose produced from polypropylene. It will presumably also be possible to employ certain hot-melt adhesives, for example, of the type described in US. Pat. No. 3,008,863, issued Nov. 14, 1961, to TLC. Morris.

By utilizing said adhesive tapes as bonding or joining means, good results were obtained with a cylindrical container fabricated from approximately 0.12 mm thick polyethylene sheet and having a perimeter of the container cross-section of approximately 1 m and a length of approximately 6 m, and a filling hose of monoaxially oriented polypropylene with a wall thickness of from 0.03 to 0.05 mm and a perimeter of approximately 16 to 20 cm. The width of each of the two diametrically opposed adhesive tapes was cm, that is to say slightly more than one fourth of the perimetric length of the hose.

The filling technique described above can be employed for many different kinds of material, including powdery or granular materials, crops of various kinds, slurries or high viscosity liquids. The filling method described can be generally employed irrespective of the orientation of the container, that is to say irrespective of whether it is arranged horizontally, vertically or inclined. Particularly in the case of crops in the form of foodstuffs or fodder which, subsequent to having been filled into the container, have to be stored for some time in the open, it may be desirable to protect the filling material against deleterious influences from the surrounding air which may, for instance, cause the material to ferment or putrefy. In such cases an inert gas, e.g. carbon dioxide, which is relatively inexpensive, may be introduced prior to the final sealing of the filled container in order to expel the atmospheric air present therein. The diffusion tightness or imperviousness of the container walls necessary in this connection can normally be achieved by a suitable selection of container material and wall thickness, and it is assumed in particular that cross-laminated polyethylene sheets with a wall thickness of 0.2 to 0.3 mm will be able to meet the requirements as to imperviousness even in the case of relatively protracted storage periods of the material stored in the container.

In some cases it is possible, subsequent to the filling of the container and prior to the final sealing thereof, to extract by suction a part of the air or gas volume present inside the container whereby the external atmospheric pressure produces a certain compression of the material.

Among the numerous possible applications of a container according to the invention, mention may be made by way of example only, besides the applications already given or indicated previously, of storing, through shorter or more prolonged periods, raw materials for industrial plants, among them straw and other agricultural by-products produced in connection with the harvest, that is to say during. a quite short period of time, while its further processing should be evenly spread over a longer period of time in order to obtain an optimal utilization of the associated production apparatus. Other kinds of material which might advantageously be stored and possibly even transported in containers according to the invention, are cement, gypsum and silage. The containers can also be used forstoring various types of waste products suchs as'sewage sludge, ash and crushed slag from, for instance, incinerating plants, whereby some of these materials can be utilized for filling purposes in connection with building projects or land reclamation without this ivolving any risk of polluting or contaminating the environment, especially the subsoil water. In a similar manner the containers can be used for under-water casting of concrete, for example, for the protection of submarine cables or pipelines.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a container for storing flowable material and an elongated filling hose having a discharge aperture located within said container for discharging said material into said container comprising:

a. a container made of a flexible material; b. at least one elongated filling hose extending into said container along a substantial portion of an internal wall of the container; v

c. said hose having means to .evenly distribute the flowable material over a predetermined portion of the length of the hose in. the container as the container is filled, said means comprising:

1. at least one bonding zone extending lengthwise of the-hose along which a portion of the outer surface of the hose is bonded to an internal wall of the container;

2. at least one non-bonded tear zone extending lengthwise of thehose from the dischargeaperture, said tear zone being 'circumferentially spaced on the hose away from the bonding zone;

the mechanical strength of the bonding being greater than the strength of the tear zone so that the location at which the filling material passes from the hose into the container will be displaced longitudinally along the hose away from the discharge aperture in timed relation with the filling operation by progressive tearing of the hose along the length of the tear zone.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the hose has opposed bonding zones bonded to the interior of the container, said zones placing the tear zone in tension as the container is filled.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the hose has two diametrically opposed bonding zones which are bonded to opposed internal walls of the container.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which the hose has two diametrically opposed bonding zones which are bonded to opposite internal walls in the container when collapsed and two diametrically opposed tear zones both of which tear as the container is filled, permitting expansion of the container.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said bonding zones are formed with flat bonding surfaces.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein each bonding zone comprises two flanges projecting from a central part of the hose.

.7. The combination of claim 5, in which said filling hose has an elongated and at least substantially rectangular outer cross-section with said flat bonding surfaces formed by the relatively wider sides of the crosssection, and at least two circular flow apertures are located closely juxtaposed in the lateral direction of the cross-section.

'8. The combination of claim 7, wherein longitudinally extending incisions are formed iii the opposed I narrow sides of said cross-section.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein said hose and said container are bonded together throughout the entire length of the hose between said discharge aperture and the outer circumference of said container.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the width of each bonding zone is greater than the width of each tear zone.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the filling hose is smaller in said tear zones than in said bonding zones.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein the wall thickness of the filling hose is substantially constant, and at least one continuous thread of a differing material is embedded in each tear zone and extends lengthwise of the hose.

13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said filling hoseis made of a plastics materialhaving a strong monoaxial molecular orientation in the longitudinal direction of the hose.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said plas tics material is polypropylene.

15. The combination of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal incision extends for some distance into the tear zone of said filling hose from said discharge aperture of the hose.

16. The combination of. claim 1, wherein the filling hose is bonded to the container by means of a longitudinal strip coated on both sides thereof with a pressuresensitive adhesive and interposed between the hose and the inner surface of the container.

17. The combination of claim 1, wherein the outer end of said filling hose remote from said discharge aperture is everted so that the outermost portion of the hose is doublewalled.

18. The combination of claim 1, wherein a sleeve made of a substantially isotropic material is mounted with a tight fit in the outer end of said filling hose remote from the discharge aperture thereof, said sleeve protruding beyond the outer circumference of the container.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein said sleeve is made of a biaxially oriented plastics material.

20. The combination of claim 1, wherein longitudinally at least one extending groove is formed in the external surface of said tear zone of the hose.

21. The combination as claimed in claim 20, wherein the bottom of each groove is sharp-edged.

22. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which internal ducts extend longitudinally through the tear zone of the hose wall.

23. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said filling hose has a cross-section with a circular'external contour and an elliptical, centrally located flow 

1. The combination of a container for storing flowable material and an elongated filling hose having a discharge aperture located within said container for discharging said material into said container comprising: a. a container made of a flexible material; b. at least one elongated filling hose extending into said container along a substantial portion of an internal wall of the container; c. said hose having means to evenly distribute the flowable material over a predetermined portion of the length of the hose in the container as the container is filled, said means comprising:
 1. at least one bonding zone extending lengthwise of the hose along which a portion of the outer surface of the hose is bonded to an internal wall of the container;
 2. at least one non-bonded tear zone extending lengthwise of the hose from the discharge aperture, said tear zone being circumferentially spaced on the hose away from the bonding zone; the mechanical strength of the bonding being greater than the strength of the tear zone so that the location at which the filling material passes from the hose into the container will be displaced longitudinally along the hose away from the discharge aperture in timed relation with the filling operation by progressive tearing of the hose along the length of the tear zone.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which the hose has opposed bonding zones bonded to the interior of the container, said zones placing the tear zone in tension as the container is filled.
 2. at least one non-bonded tear zone extending lengthwise of the hose from the discharge aperture, said tear zone being circumferentially spaced on the hose away from the bonding zone; the mechanical strength of the bonding being greater than the strength of the tear zone so that the location at which the filling material passes from the hose into the container will be displaced longitudinally along the hose away from the discharge aperture in timed relation with the filling operation by progressive tearing of the hose along the length of the tear zone.
 3. The combination of claim 1 in which the hose has two diametrically opposed bonding zones which are bonded to opposed internal walls of the container.
 4. The combination of claim 1 in which the hose has two diametrically opposed bonding zones which are bonded to opposite internal walls in the container when collapsed and two diametrically opposed tear zones both of which tear as the container is filled, permitting expansion of the container.
 5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said bonding zones are formed with flat bonding surfaces.
 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein each bonding zone comprises two flanges projecting from a central part of the hose.
 7. The combination of claim 5, in which said filling hose has an elongated and at least substantially rectangular outer cross-section with said flat bonding surfaces formed by the relatively wider sides of the cross-section, and at least two circular flow apertures are located closely juxtaposed in the lateral direction of the cross-section.
 8. The combination of claim 7, wherein longitudinally extending incisions are formed in the opposed narrow sides of said cross-section.
 9. The combination of claim 1, wherein said hose and said container are bonded together throughout the entirE length of the hose between said discharge aperture and the outer circumference of said container.
 10. The container of claim 1, wherein the width of each bonding zone is greater than the width of each tear zone.
 11. The combination of claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the filling hose is smaller in said tear zones than in said bonding zones.
 12. The combination of claim 1 wherein the wall thickness of the filling hose is substantially constant, and at least one continuous thread of a differing material is embedded in each tear zone and extends lengthwise of the hose.
 13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said filling hose is made of a plastics material having a strong monoaxial molecular orientation in the longitudinal direction of the hose.
 14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said plastics material is polypropylene.
 15. The combination of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal incision extends for some distance into the tear zone of said filling hose from said discharge aperture of the hose.
 16. The combination of claim 1, wherein the filling hose is bonded to the container by means of a longitudinal strip coated on both sides thereof with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and interposed between the hose and the inner surface of the container.
 17. The combination of claim 1, wherein the outer end of said filling hose remote from said discharge aperture is everted so that the outermost portion of the hose is doublewalled.
 18. The combination of claim 1, wherein a sleeve made of a substantially isotropic material is mounted with a tight fit in the outer end of said filling hose remote from the discharge aperture thereof, said sleeve protruding beyond the outer circumference of the container.
 19. The combination of claim 18, wherein said sleeve is made of a biaxially oriented plastics material.
 20. The combination of claim 1, wherein longitudinally at least one extending groove is formed in the external surface of said tear zone of the hose.
 21. The combination as claimed in claim 20, wherein the bottom of each groove is sharp-edged.
 22. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which internal ducts extend longitudinally through the tear zone of the hose wall.
 23. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said filling hose has a cross-section with a circular external contour and an elliptical, centrally located flow passage. 